Lovie: ASJ “On Schedule”
November 10th, 2015
Lovie talks ASJ injury.
The Bucs still have a prayer of getting to seven wins and somehow, some way, backing into the playoffs.
As Joe has written before, four of the past five seasons, a team with an 8-8 record or worse has made the playoffs.
Right now, 8-8 seems unrealistic. But 7-9? Not impossible.
To reach this mark, winning half of their games the rest of the season, the Bucs need to be healthy. Right now, America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, is playing short-handed in the passing game.
Gone for the year is No. 3 receiver Louis Murphy. Possibly gone until next month is No. 1 receiver Vincent Jackson. This year, No. 2 receiver Mike Evans has been, to be polite, inconsistent with his hands when he has been healthy.
Joe will never forget how two weeks ago at Atlanta, Evans had a groin injury and left the field what seemed like every other play it in the second half to get his legs worked on so he could return. What a gamer!
Of course, the Bucs and Jameis have been playing without starting tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins since Week Two at New Orleans, when he blew out his shoulder.
The Bucs really need his return immediately, but given his injury-riddled history (he has missed 13 of 24 games due to an ailment of some sort), it is more likely ASJ won’t play.
Though Lovie loves to wallow in high school gamesmanship when it comes to injured players’ availability, as if opposing coaches are irresponsible enough to not prepare for a talented player like ASJ to take the field, Lovie didn’t sound encouraging at all about ASJ yesterday.
He was asked why ASJ is practicing at full availability, as he was last Thursday, but not suiting up against the Giants.
“That’s where we made our mistake a little bit,” Lovie said. “You might have made that mistake a little bit of assuming that when we put him out there in pads that he was ready to go. [When] you talk to a player he is always going to tell you that he is ready to go.
“I don’t think there has been a setback. I think he’s been on schedule. This is the schedule he’s been on. Again, we had him go out and practice a few weeks back, but that was just running around. He didn’t have any contact or anything like that. We can’t wait to get him back on the football field.
“He is making progress, but he’s not there yet. As far as this week on whether [he’ll play or not], when a player is ready to go and he is good to go we’ll get him out there. He’s not there yet.”
So for you fantasy guys — Joe assumes that is 98 percent of readers — it sure doesn’t smell like ASJ will play against Dallas.
Again, this could be just Lovie playing high school gamesmanship, which he is wont to do. But with ASJ’s injury history, Joe wouldn’t lay any amount of cash on him starting Sunday.
To hear more from Lovie’s press conference yesterday, click the arrow below. Audio courtesy of Joe’s friends at WDAE-AM 620.
November 10th, 2015 at 1:07 pm
I don’t care about this guy anymore. All I hear is maybe maybe when he’s ready. He’s as soft as tissue paper and when he is out there he half ass es or acts stupid. Right now he’s a bust. He can’t play more than a few games in a row before missing half the season. Just plan the future at TE around someone else. This guy is completely unreliable.
November 10th, 2015 at 1:10 pm
Playoffs? LOL, now that is pretty funny!
November 10th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Butter > ASJ
November 10th, 2015 at 1:21 pm
On schedule to play three games this year… So far this kid is looking like an injury prone, bad hands, fumbling bust…
November 10th, 2015 at 1:22 pm
asj just to let you know..players in the nfl play when they are hurt…McCoy may have a nice guy mentality but he’s no softy…guy has been gutting it out since week2…asj needs to suck it up, your playing with big boys now and getting paid to do so…GO BUCS!!!
November 10th, 2015 at 1:22 pm
“the kevin” how many times have you called out of work for being sick? but you call this guy soft as tissue paper because he has a legitimate shoulder injury? lol lets get real ppl these guys are grown ass men hitting each other like they want to kill each other. Let ASJ heal not like we are going to win the super bowl this year.. He has talent we know that but i rather have him for 7-8 years than rush him back from injury and mess his whole career up. I’m sick of the bitching fans on this site.. most of y’all never played football in your lives but have so much to say about how to run a professional team GTFOH
November 10th, 2015 at 1:22 pm
I will not judge or criticize over an injury. I was frustrated at first but, we need him to have a long healthy career. Whats the point of rushing him back? our younger guys are getting valuable snaps in his place
November 10th, 2015 at 1:23 pm
PLEASE BRING IN NICK O’LEARY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.
November 10th, 2015 at 1:36 pm
At this rate Tony Romo’s going to be back before ASJ. And he broke his collarbone.
November 10th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
ASJ should have insisted a no contact clause in his contract because any contact is too much. Rest up ASJ, get well soon. I can’t wait to see you strut your stuff. Just change your number to a one word statement. FRAGILE
November 10th, 2015 at 1:43 pm
I’m so sick of you guys making excuses for this lazy bum! I’m so sick of love! We didn’t even need a freaking tight end at that pick!
November 10th, 2015 at 1:53 pm
scott fitzgerald Says:
November 10th, 2015 at 1:22 pm
I will not judge or criticize over an injury. I was frustrated at first but, we need him to have a long healthy career. Whats the point of rushing him back? our younger guys are getting valuable snaps in his place
_______________________________________________________________
Yeah, it’s not like ASJ is the youngest player at his position on the roster. Good thing we can see what guys older than him can do.
November 10th, 2015 at 1:54 pm
ASJ wow the guy is like a Christmas ornament don’t drop him he’ll break!!! I would like to know how many games has he played versus sit out. Whatever it is he is starting to remind me of Grant Hill who rarely played for the Orlando Magic. Huge waste of money. Great potential little production. How can a guy like that miss so many games and a linebacker like Derrick Brooks never miss one. Wow.
November 10th, 2015 at 1:58 pm
By the way I think Gerald McCoy has a legitimate shoulder injury but he is out there at least trying and then getting roasted for his lack of production. At least Gerald gives it a go instead of saying “I need to be 110 percent!”
November 10th, 2015 at 2:08 pm
@joe.. Does anyone else have to wait this long for moderation??
November 10th, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Why are we talking about someone rarely on the field?
November 10th, 2015 at 2:18 pm
After 8 games and our most reliable “dunkaneer” receiver is Humphries. Great drafting Licht! Another reason L&L are terrible at personnel decisions. Instead, Bucs are holding rehearsals at db but it was ok to let Reavis go. SMH!
November 10th, 2015 at 2:23 pm
dump ASJ he has no HEART…Part of the problem with this team we leave players on this team that don’t produce.. Who cares if he caught a couple of passes… Throw to Brate I bet he will catch the ball…
ASJ is a waste of time… He needs to play flag Football
November 10th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
5-6 wins max. Watch the Dallass backups wax loser Lovie on Sunday
November 10th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
I for one am not rushing asj back…since hes been gone the run game has been outstanding…GO BUCS!!!
November 10th, 2015 at 3:38 pm
ASJ is The Big Poop!
Anyone who misses this many games does not deserve three names!
November 10th, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Well said A-Train
November 10th, 2015 at 4:38 pm
I seldom comment on this site, too much hate for me, but on this issue I agree with most. This guy is the consummate pu**y. Diagnosis: Sore shoulder. At this stage in the season everyone has a sore something, including top producers like Evans, Mankins, and McCoy. Wouldn’t it be nice to have had him in our Red Zone game last week? Players like this turn my stomach and make me thankful we have College football.
November 10th, 2015 at 4:40 pm
We haven’t figured out how to win back to back games but we have figured out how to lose close ones? Rick and Lovie were going at it about Johnthan Banks not starting. Banks started the season playing very well but has not been the same since his knee injury. Jude Adjei-Barimah and Sterling Moore with Alterraun Verner in the slot, along with Keith Randy at Safety, was the best game our secondary played this year. I did not know Bradley McDougald went out with a concussion? Sounds like Lovie does not know what is going on with GMC and LVD? Lovie ends it with eventually we will get it cleaned up? Eventually? Eventually? How long has this been going on? We have another tough game coming up with another back-up QB.
November 10th, 2015 at 5:32 pm
Dallas’ backup quarterback must be counting the hours until he gets to put up a record day. I think the Bucs defense last year MADE Nick Foles! He was nobody until he played the Bucs. Now he’s a starter. This Bucs should charge other teams for this backup to starter service.
November 10th, 2015 at 5:36 pm
Sorry, that was actually Schiano who gave up the booty to Nick Foles. That’s ironic. Different coach, same terrible pass defense.
November 10th, 2015 at 6:30 pm
weak sauce…
November 10th, 2015 at 6:43 pm
Jury still out on ASJ. But He’s not helping himself. Many are playing at 70% this time of the year. As I watch his interviews, he’s rather nonchalant. Does not give me the impression he has a lot of grit and determination. Rather..he’s content with collecting that cash, doing PT and letting the season pass him by.
Lovie should just place him on IR and not let us get our hopes up about him.
BEAT THE COWBOYS BUCS..ITS WITHIN YOUR MEANS.
November 10th, 2015 at 7:02 pm
Lovieism Translation:
He has no clue.
November 10th, 2015 at 8:02 pm
On schedule to get his bust on in can’t.
November 11th, 2015 at 1:58 am
Someone is not reading Joe’s stories. 🙁